DHARA - 14 Days and 14 Days Rest
Dhara is the process by which medicated oil, milk, buttermilk, etc are poured in a continuous stream on the head in a prescribed manner. The patient is made to lie on a wooden board (droni) specially prepared for this purpose, after smearing the head and body with appropriate medicated oils. A wide-mouthed earthen vessel with a hole in the bottom is suspended by means of suitable cords either from the roof of the room or other supports so that the end of the fiber wick hanging from its bottom will be about two inches above from the forehead of the patient. The specially chosen liquid is then poured into the vessel and is made to flow in a stream on to the upper part of the forehead. The drippings collected from the basin are poured back into the vessel and then this process continues for one and a half hour. After Dhara, the patient is given a bath in warm water.
In some cases, where bath is not allowed, oil is removed by dry towel. Dhara is carried out daily for a period of one to three weeks, depending on the severity of the disease. Dhara alleviates fatigue, lack of vitality, improves memory and restores the equilibrium of Doshas (Vata, Pitta and Kapha). This treatment is also effective in insomnia, chronic headaches like migraine, ear nose diseases, neuropathy, spondylitis, paraplegai,etc.
PIZHICHIL - 14 Days and 14 Days Rest
This treatment is effective in all kinds of skeletal and muscular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lumbago, sciatica, hemiplegia, neuropathy, etc. The patient is allowed to sit on thewooden board and the prescribed medicated oil is applied on his head and body. A piece of clean cloth is then tied around his head across the forehead to prevent oil dripping to the eyes. Warm medicated oil is poured on the body by dipping pieces of clean cloth in the oil and squeezing them over the body. The duration of the treatment varies according to the condition of the patient. The body is massaged lightly and the oil over the body is removed by wiping with a dry towel or giving a bath in warm water.
NAVARAKIZHI - 14 Days (7 Days + 7 Days Rest)
This a a process by which the whole body or specific parts are made to sweat by the application of certain medicinal puddings made of rice, etc tied up as poultices in a muslin cloth. The therapeutic measure is so named because of the fat that poultices of cooked navara rice are used in the process. Navarakizhi is usually done on all skeletal and muscular diseases, paralysis, sciatica, etc and as an after treatment of Pizhichil. This helps to improve the general health also.
To begin with, medicated oil prescribed by the physician is smeared on the head and body of the patient. The patient is thereafter made to lie on the board. Boluses of navara rice cooked in medicated decoction are soaked for a few minutes in warm medicated decoction and milk and attendants gently massage the body with the rice bags. Navarakizhi over, the rice paste sticking on to the body is removed
and warm medicated oil is once again applied on the body. After a few minutes massage of the body, the patient is given a bath in moderately warm water.
SIROVASTI - 14 days ( 7 Days + 7 Days Rest)
This is a special technique to administer medicated oil on the head. A cap open at both sides made of flexible leather is fitted on the head of the patient after applying medicated oil on the head and body. The prescribed medicated oil slightly warm is poured in this cap. Sirovash is usually done with the patient sitting upright on a stool. The oil is allowed to remain inside the cap for about 45 minutes, and then after it is drained out, oil ont he head is wiped away and fresh body bath in warm water. But the oil on the head is wiped with dry towels.
Sirovasti is exceptionally effective in eye, nose and ear diseases, chronic headaches, facil paralysis, spondylitis, insomnia and numerous other disorders arising out of deranged vata. It also improves vision, memory and mental faculties.
SIROLEPA - 14 Days ( 7 Days + 7 Days Rest)
This is a technique consisting of the application of pastes of medicinal herbs on the head. Precarp of the fruits of gooseberry cooked in butter milk is commonly used. After applying oil on the head and body, the finely ground paste is put on the head and the area is covered with green plantain leaf.
After one/one and a half hour, the paste is removed and the oil is wiped off. The patient is then given a bath in warm water, after smearing head and body with appropriate medicated oil. Sirolepa improved vision, cures headaches, insomnia.
In addition to the major treatments described above, all Panchakama treatments, Banana, Virechana, Snehavsti, Kashayavasti and Nasyams are conducted here along with Snehapanam and Swedanam. During all the above treatments, the patient has to take complete bed rest and internal medicines are also given with restrictions in food. During rest periods also the patient is given oil
massage and internal and external medicines and also advised to take complete rest and follow diet restrictions. For FITS and GITS, one or two days treatments are available.
ELAKIZHI - 7 Days + 7 Days Rest
This is a special technique done by Kerala Physicians. It is a process by which fomentation is done by using boluses of leaves and used in this process. Certain leaves having the Doshahara property (alleviates, Vata, Pitta, Kapha) are fried together in neem oil/castor oil, until they attain deep brown colour, lemon pieces and coconut scapes are also added to this mixture. These are then tied into a boluses of fried leaves are used in this process. These are again heated in warm fire and a gentle massage is given over the body. After a few minutes massage of the body the patient is given a bath
in moderately warm water.
PODIKIZHI - 7 Days + 7 Days Rest
This is a technique by which whole body or specific parts are made to sweat by using application of certain powders. Certain drugs which have the nature of allevitating the doshas (vata, pitta, kapha) are well powdered and are made into boluses in a muslin cloth. This boluses are again heated in warm fire and a gently massage is given over the body. After a few minutes, massage on body the patient is given bath in moderately warm water.
Podikizhi is indicated in diseases where there is vitiation of kapha, heaviness of body/extremities and obesity, etc.
UDVARTANAM - 7 Days + 7 Days Rest
This is special technique done mainly to reduce the weight (obesity). The powder of certain drugs are used to give massage over the body. This is done to 45 minutes followed by warm bath. This is done in conditions, where podikizhi is indicated
GANDOOSHAM
Filling the ear with few drops of medicated oil in ears. This helps to clean the ear and protects from infection.
NASYAM - 7 Days
Instilling few drops of oil in the nose. The dose is fixed with the severity of the disease and patient has to inhale the oil, instilled in each nostril. This is good to clear phlegm from channels and prevents blocking of the channels.
MATRAVASTI
This is a process done to allevitate vata, by administering medicated oil through the anus. This is done in conditions of paralysis, neuropathy, etc.
Intensive treatments like Dhara, Pizhichil, Sirovasti, etc can be only done provided a patient is willing to follow all restrictions laid down by the physician and also stay on at the center for a required number of days, after the treatment, we do not compromise on the quality of the duration of the treatment based on patients convenience. |
